The Joy of Glory

Deuteronomy 30:11-20 (click here to read the entire passage)
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

Reflection
Last night, Holly and I were talking in the kitchen when we heard Solomon, our 19-month-old son, cry out in pain from the living room. He immediately came running in our direction. Being the loving father that I am, I walked towards him with arms outstretched while I spoke inviting, comforting words.

He didn’t even slow down.

The kid pretty much shoved me to the side, blew right past me, and threw himself into the arms of his mother.

Typical.

In all seriousness, this is not out of the ordinary at all. The kid always prefers Holly over me. Why? It’s not for “no” reason at all. Indeed, it is for a great many reasons. She is the one who is ever-present in his life. She is the one who has held him the most, fed him the most, cared for him the most. So, even though she is also the one who has disciplined him the most, he still wants her… because he knows her goodness, her love, her heart. He knows her… and his wanting her is based on everything glorious he has seen and experienced about her. His wanting her glorifies her.

In Deuteronomy 30, God calls a new generation of Hebrews to be different than their forefathers who constantly turned away from him to seek solace in the “arms” of other gods. As these people are poised to enter the land God had promised them, he calls them to always be a people who run to him without even slowing down. This should be what is “typical” of God’s people.

Why?

It’s not for “no” reason at all. Indeed, it is for a great many reasons. They should run to the Lord, love him, obey him, and hold fast to him “FOR he is your life and length of days…”

He is our life! He sustains us, he holds us, he guides us, he pours out his covenant love upon us, and yes, that even means he disciplines us. The point is that there are real, objective reasons that we want him… because we know his goodness, his love, his heart. We know him! Our wanting him is based on everything glorious we have seen and experienced about God! Our wanting God glorifies him!

Our faith is not a leap into the dark! If it were, that would not glorify God! No! Our faith is a running into the arms of the one who’s glory we have seen, and we love, trust, and treasure him!

Today… who’s arms are you choosing to run into and why?

See the glory of the God who is your life and run into his loving arms! Don’t even slow down!

 
*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.